Men of ALLAH

The Holy Quran says: Also mention in the Book the case of Idris: He was a man of truth (and sincerity), (and) a prophet: And We raised him to a lofty station. (19:56-57)Idris the prophet was one of the great grandsons of Prophet Sheth, and in the 5th generation of the Prophet Adam. He was born a century after the death of Prophet Adam, in Babylon. He was the third Prophet of Almighty God. He was called Idris because he used to teach about the wisdom of Almighty God, by inviting people to worship the Unique God and avoid committing sins. He preached the true religion (Islam).

It has been stated that Prophet Idris introduced the art of writing and the art of stitching (Tailoring). He was the first man to make weapons. He also explained measuring the weights by a balance, unknown to the people.It was Prophet Idris who spoke to the people about the mysterious knowledge of the planets. He explained to them about the earth, the sky, the phenomenal creation, the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds and instructed them to worship the Creator of all these things.

In his early Prophethood, a cruel oppressing king was ruling over Idris’s tribe. He forcefully and oppressively dispossessed people of their lands and properties. Once, when the king went out of his palace for merrymaking, he happened to reach a green beautiful meadow. So he asked his ministers:

“Who is the owner of this meadow?”One of his ministers replied, “Your Highness, it is possessed by a faithful man who believes in the Unique God. He lives some where around here.”King: “Anyway, it's a nice land, and we shall possess it.”Minister: “You shall have whatever you wish, Your Majesty.”King: “Bring him to my presence but right away.”The agents of the king found the faithful man and brought him to his presence.The king, giving him a glance proudly, said: “Is this land yours?”Faithful man replied: “Yes, it is.” SyriaKing: “All right, you must cede this land to me.”Faithful man: “But I have a family who needs it and its benefits much more than you do.”King: “So sell it to me and get the money.”Faithful man: “I can’t, my whole family depends on this land.”

The more the king insisted on buying the land, the stronger rejected the idea. Finally the King got angry and ordered to kill the faithful man and dispossessed his land.The news of this event was over spread until Prophet Idris was also informed of that. Coming to know that, he went to the King and said, “Was not it enough to kill a subject of God? You then dispossessed him of the land, his only property, and put his family into misery too. Beware! For Almighty God will take revenge on you and you shall be deprived of your kingdom.”

The king said: “Get out of here before I order to kill youtoo!” Prophet Idris left, but the queen decided to send some men after him to kill him.Prophet Idris learnt that his life was in danger so he left the town and hid himself. He took shelter in a cave on a mountain and an angel used to provide him with food.He prayed to Almighty God saying, “My God! Send not your blessings unto this land until I shall request you to.” Prophet Idris’s prayer was granted and AlmightyGod punishment descended on the king. He lost his throne and died a shameful death. His capital was destroyed and his wife’s flesh was eaten by wild dogs. The kingdom passed into the hands of another cruel king.

Twenty (20) years passed after the disappearance of Prophet Idris. During this time not even a drop of rain fell and the people suffered terribly, because of the famine and drought. They realized that their troubles were due to the curse of Prophet Idris and they prayed to Almighty God to forgive them.

The remorseful people went to Prophet Idris and repented in his presence and promised that they would obey him and worship God. Prophet Idris then asked Almighty God to send down rain on them.After his prayers, there came a productive rain and the drought ended. And Prophet Idris took the responsibility of leading his tribe thereafter.

Prophet Idris and his followers left Babylon for Egypt. There he carried on his mission, calling people to what is just and fair, teaching them certain prayers and instructing them to fast on certain days and to give a portion of their wealth to the poor for many years. Finally, Prophet Idris did not die but was taken bodily to paradise to spend eternity with God where he is alive even today, after spending three hundred and fifty six (356) years on earth.

islamicoccasions.com Presents Men of God

Last edited by obaidat-allah on Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:59 pm; edited 1 time in total

The Holy Quran says: We (once) sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty: but the Deluge overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin.

His name was Abdul Ghaffar or Abdul Malik or Abdul Aala or Sakan, but he is generally known as Noah (One who shed tears) for fear for God, he wept for five hundred (500) years, and he lived for nine hundred and fifty (950) years. In spite of his long life Noah did not construct any house or a permanent dwelling for himself. He lived in a small hut. When he laid himself in it, half of his legs would be out of it. Prophet Noah lived in the land of the two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates).

The people of Noah’s tribe were worshipping idols for many years. Idol worship was so deeply rooted in the minds of the people that they would not like to give it up at any cost. They had accepted idols as their Gods and hoped these idols would make them prosperous and fortunate in their lives. They used to take refuge in them at the time of misery and call them with various names such as Wadd (idol in the form of a Man), Yaghus (idol in the form of a Lion), Ya’ooq (idol in the form of a Horse) and Nasr (idol in the form of an Eagle).

So, at such a time of disbelief, Almighty God appointed Noah to be a Prophet among this tribe and to guide them. Noah was a patient, eloquent and wise man. He was inviting people to worship Almighty God but they turned their faces away and tried not to see or hear anything. Despite all these rejections, Noah was trying to guide them with much patience and tolerance as possible and was always kind and tender while talking to them.This way, Noah an arch Prophet continued to invite people to worship Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent One God through disputation, reasoning and offering logical proofs for them. Consequently a few people believed in him. But some extremely rude cruel aristocrats and arrogant rich people of the tribe refused to believe him and together started disturbing him. They mocked at him when he preached to them. They wouldeven beat him and pelt stones at him and would even bring their children and ask them to throw stones at the Prophet.

At times Prophet Noah was buried under the heap of stones. Angel Gabriel (Gibraeel) would come and remove the stones and heal up the Prophet's wounds. In spite of Noah’s earnest efforts, people refuse to believe in his Divine Mission.Prophet Noah refers to the various stages through which a child has to pass; later on he is bestowed by His grace various faculties moral as well as social. If a person ponders over his, creation he is bound to believe in Almighty who is all powerful. Prophet Noah also throws light on His marvels “Do you not see how he has created the seven heavens (in layers) one above the others?” “And made the moon, in it a light, and the sun as a lamp.” There are stages fixed for the moon and the sun, along with its solar system is moving towards some destination. He also said, a man is born from the earth (clay) andreturns to it, after his death. He shall come back to life again, on the Day of Judgment.

The people were puffed with pride; hence they did not pay any heed to the Divine Messages.According to the deep rooted belief of the people only an angel could be a Prophet, and not a human being. Hence the people were astonished when Noah declared that he was a Prophet. They said that he wanted to show off his importance hence he claimed to be a Prophet, but he is a human being just as we are and a member of our tribe.

Another man said: “If God wished to send us a Prophet, He would surely send us an angel so that we could pay attention to him and respond to his invitation.Another man said: “Who are these poor people? See who have become your followers? If you are interested in guiding us, neither rejects these poor ruffians who believe in you for we cannot follow the same routine nor have the same belief as they do. How can we accept a religion which considersthe high and the low, the rich and the poor equal?”Prophet Noah answered: “I’ve brought you the way of salvation but you’ve treated me with great grudge and obstinacy.”One of the men said: “We don’t consider you and your followers superior to us. Yes, you are no higher than us from the viewpoint of wisdom, foresightedness and conservatism and we believe you’re liars.” “You Noah, you had a lot of disputations with us. Now if your words are true make your promises about torment (Azaab) come true and send down calamity on us.”

When Noah made sure that the people of his tribe were quite misled and their hearts were filled with disbelief and corruption and even offering logical proofs and reasoning was of no use to them, he couldn’t keep his patience any more. Therefore he said: “O’ my Lord! Leaves not even one of these atheists (non-believers) on earth for if they continue living, they shall mislead your subjects and reproduce sinful and atheist offspring.”

Almighty God then responded to his request with a divine revelation, which said: “Make a ship under My supervision and do not talk about these oppressors anymore.”Prophet Noah started making the ship but the people of his tribe kept mocking him and said: “Noah! You used to keep saying that you were a Prophet, but how come you’vebecome a carpenter today? Perhaps you’ve come to hate the Prophethood and got interested in carpentry!”

Noah answered: “You ridicule us now but do know that we shall soon laugh at you and your destiny. You will soon understand who receives the humiliating torment and eternalmisery.”Prophet Noah was consistent in his work, joining large and small pieces of the ship together. He then made the ship fast and it was completed. The Ship/Ark was constructed at the place, now known as ‘Kufa Mosque’ in Iraq. It was 1200 yards in length, 800 yards in width and 80 yards in height.

It had three floors; bottom floor was for animals, middle floor for the birds and the top floor for 80 believers along with the necessary articles.After building the Ship, Noah waited for some time to receive God’s command. Finally Almighty God sent down a revelation to Noah. It said: “When the signs of tormentappear, get onto the ship and take some of your relatives (Noah’s wife, his three sons Ham, Sam and Yafes and their wives), your followers (72) and a couple of each species ofislamicoccasions.

the animals and birds with you on board.” Noah’s other wife was an unbeliever, she did not believe in the message of her husband. Noah’s son Kan’an was a hypocrite at heart and did not get into the Ship.An old woman with her little daughter came to Prophet Noah. She asked him about Salvation Day:“When will God save us from the wickedness of the unbelievers?”Prophet Noah did not know the time of the Salvation Day. So he looked at the sky. Indeed only God knew that day.At that moment, an angel came down from the sky. He said to Prophet Noah: “When water gushes from the house of the old woman the time of the flood will be close.”Noah said to the old woman: “God’s specified a sign for the Salvation Day. He has inspired me that water will gush from your house. The water will be like a fountain. This will be thesign of the Salvation Day.”

The old woman rejoiced at this miracle. The little girl smiled at this hope.The believers went to the old woman’s house every day. They looked at the place of the water, but there was no water. Prophet Noah also went there. However, the water had not gushed yet.One day, the sky became over clouded. It got very dark. Prophet Noah was looking at the sky waiting for God’s order.

The unbelievers increased their oppression and corruption. They killed people and robed their houses.Their evil deeds and wickedness increased day by day. The little girl came running to Prophet Noah and said to him: “The water has flowed out!” So Prophet Noah went there quickly. Almighty God was truthful in his promise. The water was like a fountain. The water was flowing out with force. The old woman was bewildered, not knowing what to do.The believers went to the old woman’s house to look at God’s sign. Some of them looked at the water in astonishment. Some of them were looking at the sky. They all were weeping with joy.

Following the revelation a heavy rain started and water began to gush up from the earth. There was solar eclipse. Nothing was visible except the sky and the water. A flood overflowed and gradually covered the hills and mountains. At such a time, Noahrushed towards his Ship and saw the disbelievers of the tribe who were struggling with death to overcome it but despite their effort, the victory was of the death.At that time Prophet Noah suddenly saw his son Kan’an who was plunging among the roaring waves, Noah said to his son:“Where are you going? Believe in Almighty God and come to the Ship to be saved.” “I shall take refuge in a mountain to protectme from the danger of the flood.” “My dear son! Today you can not find shelter to save you from God’s command.” Noah’s son Kufa Mosque

drowned inside the waves, and then Noah said to his God: “O God! My son is among my relatives and you promised to save all those relatives of mine who believed in you.”And Almighty God sent him a revelation saying: “Noah! This son is not of your relatives for he has denied your Prophethood.”

The above Paragraph throws light on the fact that it is merit and virtuous deeds which count and not the blood relationship. It demands close affinity in character and spiritual attainment. Therefore birth does not convey any importance. Salman Farsi a villager in Isfahan, obeyed God and His Messenger Muhammad (pbuh). He was honored with being one of the Prophet’s companions. But the son of Prophet Noah disobeyed God and His Messenger and he was drowned.

In an apologetic manner Prophet Noah said: “O’ my Lord! Verily I seek refuge in You from asking you that of which I have no knowledge; and if You forgive me not and have Mercy on me, I should be of the losers.”It is related that the Ship made turns and the waves shoved it forward till it reaches Makkah, where it made rounds of the shrine of Kaaba. The whole earth was submerged with water except the spot where Kaaba stood. The Holy house is known bythe name of ‘Baitul Atique’.

The Ship was not moving steadily and smoothly. Movement was with jerks and Noah began to fear drowning, at this moment he began the recitation: La Elaha IllAllah (There is no God but Almighty God).

Only the believers survived who were in the Ship along with Prophet Noah. The rest i.e., disbelievers perished in the deluge.There is a famous saying by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), which states as: “The likeness of my Ahlul Bayt (The Holy Prophet and his household) is thatof the Ark of Noah. He who got into it is saved and he who turned away from it is drowned.”After forty (40) days, raining stopped. The clouds dispersed gradually. The sun rose and a beautiful rainbow appeared in the horizon. The colors were beautiful and they made the believers hopeful.

Noah’s Ship was placed on the Judy mount (the mountains of the region of Ararat/Turkey) safe and sound. The earth starts swallowing the water slowly.Prophet Noah released a crow. The crow flew high in the sky. It turned in space, and then it returned, for it found no land to sit on. Then Noah released a white pigeon. The pigeon set off. It flew over the water till it disappeared. After awhile, the pigeon came back. It was carrying an olive tree twig in its pink beak. Noah and the believers rejoiced at that. The flood ended. Thus Almighty God protected the believers from the wickedness of the unbelievers.

Then Noah was commanded to get off the Ship, step on the earth and start a new life once again under God’s divine blessings and providence. And Noah laid the foundation of the city of ‘Madinatus Samanin’ or ‘Sooqus Samanin’ (The city of eighty people or the market of eighty persons who survived the deluge). The world is indebted to the progeny of Prophet Noah; hence he is known as Adam-e-Sani (The second Adam).

Prophet Noah lived for quite some time, after the deluge. When his life was drawing to its close Angel Gabriel informed him that he should hand over the Ministry to his son Sam along with the signs of the Prophetic knowledge. Because, other two sons Ham and Yafes are not virtuous and mock the Prophet. Prophet Noah had given to the people the good news of the coming of Hud the Prophet.At the end of his life, the angel of death (Ezraeel) appeared, when Prophet Noah was standing in the Sun and asked the angel the purpose of his visit. The angel replied that it was to take his soul out of this Corporal lorld. Prophet Noah asked: Is there time for him to return from the Sun to the Shade?‘Yes’, said the angel. Returning from the Sun, Prophet Noah said that his stay in the world was only as much as his passing from the Sun to the Shade and the likeness of the life in this world is like entering through a door and getting out by another.

----------

Noah and the ugly Dog One day, long before he built the Ark, Prophet Noah was passing by a lonely road. He saw a Dog. The Dog was not good to look at. In fact, it was very,very ugly. The Dog was so ugly that Noah did not even like to look at itagain. Noah felt disgusted at the sight of the ugly Dog. He said to himself, “Oh MyGod! What an ugly Dog!”Immediately, by the will of Almighty, the Dog began to speak. The Dog said to Noah, “Oh Noah, I am ugly. It is sad, no doubt. But, if you have power, create one even as ugly as myself. Can you?”Noah was a good man. He was humble and sincere. He realized that he should not have said what he had said. He began to cry with tears of repentance. He cried begging forgiveness of Almighty God.

Moral: Never hate any creature however bad looking it may be, because it is also created by Almighty God only.

------------------

Logical answers to the following two questions:

1. The Prophet Noah’s flood was a local or global disaster?The Quran looks at the flood from a very different viewpoint than do the Pentateuch (a name form the first five books of the Old Testament) and the other flood legends narrated in various cultures.The Pentateuch, says that the flood was cosmic and that it covered the whole world. Yetthe Quran does not offer such as assertion, indeed on the contrary, the relevant verses imply that the flood was regional and did not cover the whole world but only drowned Noah’s people who had been warned by Prophet Noah and so were punished.It is not God’s way to destroy people whom He has not sent any messengers. As a Warner, Noah had been sent only to his people. Therefore, God did not destroy the communities who had not been sent a Warner, but only Noah’s people.“Nor was thy Lord the one to destroy a population until He had sent to its centre a messenger, rehearsing to them Our Signs; nor are We going to destroy a population except when its members practice iniquity.” (28:59)2. What was the location of Noah’s flood?The Mesopotamian Plains have been suggested as the location of the flood. In this region were the oldest civilizations known to history. Besides, being between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, this region geographically is a suitable setting for a great deluge. One of the contributory factors to the effect of the flood is most probably that these two rivers overflowed their beds and overwhelmed the region.Many excavations have been made in investigation of the flood which covered the Mesopotamian plains. In excavations made in the region, in four main cities (Ur, Erech, Kish and Shuruppak) there are found traces of what must have been a particularly large flood.

The Holy Quran says: And the Aad, they were destroyed by a furious Wind, exceedingly violent; He made it rage against them seven nights and eight days in succession: so that thou couldst see the (whole) people lying prostrate in its (path), as they had been roots of hollow palm-trees tumbled down! Then seest thou any of them left surviving? (69:6-8)Today, when we travel through southern Arabian Peninsular, we will most frequently comeacross is the vast desert. Most of the places, with the exception of the cities and regions that have been later afforested, are covered with sand. These deserts have been there for hundreds and maybe thousands of years. This area is void of all marks of life.

There are neither plants nor water. However, was this area a desertthousands of years ago? No. There were green fertile areas in thisdesert land. Archeologists have found the ruins of a city withsprings & gardens buried under the sand.Ahqaf means “sand dunes” in Arabic and it is the plural form of theword “Hiqf” which means a “sand dune”, a raised spot in the desert.

This shows that the people of Aad lived in a region full of “sand dunes”, which provided the most logical ground possible for the fact that they were buried by a sand storm. According to one interpretation, Ahqaf lost its meaning of “sand hills” and became the name of the region in south Yemen where the people of Aad lived. The people of Aad lived here in the pre-historic ages, and used to erect high building on any elevated pieces of land to serve as a sign. They were specialists in building palaces, castles, and forts. They hadconstructed underground canals, and were engaged in agriculture and farming, they had grown gardens.

In that period of time, the people of Aad built the greatest and wonderful city in the world. It was the city of Iram: “Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Aad (people), of the Iram, with lofty pillars, the like of which were not produced in (all) the land?” (89:6-8) It was full of palaces and gardens.

Shaddad - a strong, pagan man ordered the city to be built. He wanted it to be a garden to live in. He thought that he would never die. He was very strong, so he thought that he would be immoral.Prophet Hud was sent to correct the people of Aad. Prophet Hud was not a stranger but one of their own brethren from the tribe of Aad itself as the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was to his brethren Quraishites. He was enjoining a great patience in guiding people and was tolerant enough against their ignorance. He was respected because of his noble family and his good manners. He was the son of Abdullah, grandson of Sam and the great-grandson of Prophet Noah.

People of Aad were mostly well off and were enjoying a high income. Who were very flourishing and physically a very strong people with huge structure. And also they were idolatrous, having abundant wealth as well as a long life made each and every of them to be rebellious. Thus, together, they formed a revolting proud tribe and used to say, People: “Who is mightier than us in power?” When anything good happened to them they would thank their idols and when they were in trouble, they used to pray to these idols for help.

Prophet Hud used to say, “You people! Shall worship the unique God, for there is nothing greater than Him. Why don’t you adopt the way of piety and virtue? I don’t expect any reward from you for I shall be rewarded only by the Great God who has created me. Why don’t you ponder more about it? I only declare my God’s messages for you and I shall be a trustworthy and benevolent guide for you.” “O Brothers, why do you worship stones that you have carved yourself? The idols can not give you anything or take anything away from you. You are not fools but what you are doing is against your intelligence.

Your Lord is only One, and He alone should be worshipped. He has created you, given youhealth and wealth, and made you a powerful nation. Do not rebel against God in case you meet the fate of the people of Prophet Noah.”

A man of Aad tribe answered: “Whether you advise us or not, it’s all the same because idolatry is a tradition coming to us from our ancestors during thousands of years.” The other man added, “We consider you a fool and shall think of you as a liar.”

Prophet Hud replied: “You the people of Aad tribe! I’m not a fool but a messenger from the Lord of the world. Now pray and ask forgiveness from the Almighty and do repent to His Greatness so that fruitful and plentiful rain would descend and increase your present strength to a great extent.”

However Prophet Hud tried his best to correct their faith and behavior to bring them to the right path but all in vain. The people were extremely arrogant and proud. They harassed Prophet Hud and even beat him. In spite of all the odds, he kept on delivering the message of Almighty God.

The people were punished with a drought & famine for three or seven years. Prophet Hud used to con20 tinuously admonish the people saying. Believe in Almighty God and repent you for your sins, you will have rain from Almighty God. Prophet Hud kept on preaching the Oneness of God; though he met with little success. But all this proved to be futile since the people were not prepared to give up idol worship prevalent from their forefathers.People were facing great hardships; so they assembled at Prophet Hud’s place and a black woman with ugly face and a bold head came out and coming to know that the people had assembled to pray to God for rain said: What! If the prayer of Hud was so sure to be heard by God, he would have prayed for himself, for his own cornfields are totally burnt and destroyed by the Sun. The people however requested Prophet Hud to pray for rain. Prophet Hud prayed and asked them to return to their places.

The people then asked who the old ugly woman was, who appeared at his door and spoke to them? Prophet Hud said that she was his wife for whom he prayed to God to give her the longest life possible.When they asked as to why he prayed so, Prophet Hud replied; she is my enemy. It is better to have an enemy under us then being under an enemy. After the rain the people prospered very much but did not correct their faith. The people not only refused to listen to the preaching of Prophet Hud but they transgressed their limits.

One of them said: “There shall be no torment for us and your advice will never have the least effect on us.” Another one said: “If your words are true, bring us the torment which you’re threatening us to.”Then the people of the tribe were destined to suffer the heavenly torment (Azaab-e-Ilahi). So God selected some hurricane like winds, called Sarsar and Aghim, to destroy them. And one day those who were expecting rainfall notice a black cloud appearing in the horizon and then through God’s permission, there was a strong and terrible wind that uprooted their houses and tossed the animals into the air and destroyed everything on its way. The violent storm continued for eight successive days and seven nights and by the end of it the proud people of Aad were totally destroyed. The wind buried thewonderful city of Iram, under the sands. It had destroyed its houses and their strong marble pillars.

Prophet Hud and his virtuous followers (very few in numbers)who had left the place were saved.The arrogant people of Aad were wiped out of existence. Afterthe destruction of the Aad people, Prophet Hud migrated tosome place in Hadramaut and died near the valley of Barhootand is buried there, after spending two hundred and sixty five(265) years on earth.

Note: At the beginning of 1990, there appeared press-releasesin the well-known newspapers of the world declaring“Arabian city of Legend found”, “The Atlantis of the Sands,Ubar.” Hence Ubar has been identified as the city of Irammentioned in the Quran.

What one should do in looking at those remains buried in the sands is to take warning just as the Quran stresses that the people of Aad went astray of the right path because of their arrogance and said “What! Did they not see that God, Who created them, was superior to them in strength?” (41:15)

What a person has to do is bear this unchangeable fact in mind all the time and understand that the greatest and the most honored is always Almighty God and that one can only prosper by adoring Him.

The Holy Quran says: The Thamud (also) rejected (their) Warner’s. For they said: What! a man! a Solitary one from among ourselves! Shall we follow such a one? Truly should we then be straying in mind, and mad! “Is it that the Message is sent to him, of all people amongst us? Nay, he is a liar, an insolent one!” Ah! They will know on the morrow, which is the liar, the insolent one! (54:23-26)

Holy Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) led the Muslim Army in the year nine (9) Hijra. He headedfor Tabuk, to meet the Romanian Army in the north of the Arab Peninsula towards the territory of Syria.The Muslim soldiers walked for miles and miles. They became tired and thirsty. So Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) ordered them to stop at the valley of the villages (Wadi al-Qura) nearTabuk.

The Muslim Army camped near the mountains. There were ruins and wells. One Muslim asked about the ruins: “Whose ruins are they?” The answer was: “They’re Thamud’s ruins.The tribe of Thamud lived at this place.”Holy Mohammed (pbuh) prevented the Muslims from drinking water from the wells. Then he showed them a spring near the mountain. He said to them: “Saleh’s She-camel drankfrom this spring.” Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) prevented his soldiers from entering the ruins. He wanted them to learn a lesson from that tribe on which a curse of God befell and it was destroyed. Then He said, “The most wicked person from the olden times is the one who killed the innocent She-camel of Prophet Saleh and the most wicked person in these times is the one who will martyr Ali son of Abu Talib.”

Who is the tribe of Thamud? What is the story of prophet Saleh (pbuh)?The tribe of Thamud is among the forgotten Arab tribes. History has not mentioned it. The Holy Quran has mentioned its story. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) has mentioned it in his traditions.

The tribe of Thamud known as second Aad was living happily in the land of Al-Hijr. The other name of Thamud is Ashab Al-Hijr. They were well to do people, enjoying the green gardens, big springs and rivers, the productive land and beneficial animals of this country. In order to protect themselves they used to carve buildings of the hugerocks in the mountains. But gradually idolatry and corruption got over spread among the people of this tribe like their predecessors.

They worshipped a piece of the mountain and offered sacrifices to it, annually.And consequently Almighty God appointed Saleh at the age of sixteen(16) years as a messenger, a pious man of a noble and respect

ful family in Al-Hijr, who was quite well-known for his knowledge and wisdom in the tribe to guidethe people. He preached up to the age of one hundred twenty (120) years but it was of not avail at all.Therefore, Prophet Saleh addressed the whole tribe and said: “O’ my people! Worship the Almightyfor he is the most kind and there is no God rather than him. It is He who has created you from the clayand made this land productive for you. Ask forgiveness from Him and repent to His greatness for Heis so close to you and the only one that will respond to your prayers. Remember the time when Hemade you the successor of Aad tribe and placed you on the earth where you now build your palaceson its flat lands and form houses out of its mountains. Remember God’s favors and do not choose theway of the corrupt.” To avoid any misunderstanding, Prophet Saleh reminded them of his sentimentsof kinship and ties of ancestral relationship saying: “All of you are kith and kin, and we are from thesame ancestors. I am your well-wisher, and have no evil intentions against you. Come, let us seekGod’s forgiveness and repent for our sins; for people who call Him will find Him very close to them.He always responds to the people who implore Him; and He forgives those who repent.”The people of Thamud were extremely surprised at the preaching of Prophet Saleh and said: “O’Saleh! You used to be a wise and logical man in this tribe and we thought we could depend on yourwisdom at the time of terrible events and calamities. Now you are asking us to reject what our fathersused to worship. We shall thus be quite dubious about what you are inviting us to.”Prophet Saleh: “You have to fear God. Accept my words and don’t obey the immodest people for theyspread corruption on the earth and never try making any reformation.”People: “You’re undoubtedly bewitched and have lost your wisdom and sense of logic. You are ahuman being just as we are, Aren’t you? What advantage or superiority have you got over us that havemade you wiser than us and enabled you to claim that you are a Prophet appointed by God? If yourwords are true, bring us a sign or a miracle to prove the righteousness of your claim.”However, they said they would believe in his mission, if he could cause woolly red She-camel to comeout of the mountain. Prophet Saleh said: “I’ll ask God for that. If He does that, will you believe thatthere is only one God? Will you believe that I’m His Apostle for you?”“Yes,” they answered. “When will the promise be fulfilled?” they asked.Prophet Saleh replied: “The promise will be fulfilled at this place tomorrow.”At dawn Prophet Saleh set out to the mountain where a big rock was situated.The people of Thamud gathered about the rock. Some of them doubted Saleh some of them were looking at the rock; some of them were looking at Saleh.Prophet Saleh sat down. His eyes were full of tears. He asked Almighty God for a sign to convince his people. For he wanted his people to return to their own nature and to serve only God.

Suddenly, Prophet Saleh rose. He pointed with his finger to the rock.All the members of the tribe heard a fearful sound. They heard the rock break. Then they saw it break into pieces. Then a wonderful She-camel (Naqatullah), with those characteristic, stepped out of the rock before them with the will of Almighty.

But even then the people refused to believe in his Divine Mission. He reminded his people of the boons Almighty had given them, for which they should begrateful to Him.

At this time God sent Saleh a revelation saying: “Inform your tribe of the God’s wills which permits you to use the water of this town alternatively with thisShe-camel, which is one day the people of Thamud shall use the water and one day the She-camel would drink all the water of the spring (the first spring in the world to gush forth from the earth).” On the day the She-camel of God drank the water, she gave sufficient milk for the people of the town. It was a blessing for the people.

So the Prophet Saleh said to the tribe: “You people! This is the She-camel of God which shall serve as a token of His presence and a miracle to prove the righteousness of my Prophethood and invitation.

So leave this camel on its own to graze in God’s land and feed on the grass and vegetables. Don’t do it any harm for otherwise a great torment will soon fall upon you.”However, the well-to-do and mischief-mongers didn’t leave their obstinacy and revolt and revealed their disbelief in Prophet Saleh quite clearly and as strong as they could, except for a few people who accepted his invitation and believed in him.

Finally people decided to kill the She-camel, but each time the fear of torment prevented them from taking any action. One day, some young men who were motivated by women of the tribe got determined to kill the camel and set out to do so. While the camel was busy drinking water, they shot her by an arrow which hit it in the leg and caused her to fall down. Then they drew their swords, attacked and killed her.

Prophet Saleh coming to know this turned to people and said: “Repent within three (3) days lest there will be chastisement from Almighty. This is certain and exact promise that will not be belied or delayed.” The people of the tribe neglected his words and went on with their revolt and disobedience.They even decided to kill Prophet Saleh but didn’t find the time for God. On the fourth (4) day God responded to their trickery and conspiracy with His torment, there came a lightning on them which changed them to lifeless corpses in their houses. And this was a due punishment for their oppression and revolt.

Prophet Saleh and his followers survived and the disbelievers of the tribe of Thamud could not escape the inevitable, and were destroyed. After the destruction of the tribe of Thamud, Prophet Saleh moved to Makkah and devoted his life in worship.When Prophet Saleh left his nation he was middle-aged, with a big belly, a fine body, a dense beard and of medium height. When he returned after some years, he looked youthful and there were no signs of aging. As a result, the people could not recognize him. Prophet Saleh found the people divided into three (3) groups.

The first group was in doubt about whether he was the same Saleh who had left the nation many years ago. The second group denied him completely. They did not believe for a moment that he was the same Saleh who left the nation years ago. The third group of people was steadfast in its belief and

accepted Prophet Saleh as the prophet of their nation. Prophet Saleh first approached the group that doubted him. When he claimed to be Saleh, they refused toaccept him and instead abused him and turned him away. Then he went to the group that denied him. Even they did not believe in his claim and abused him. Both these groups denied Prophet Saleh’s Prophethood by saying, ‘The Saleh we knew looked different from you.

You cannot be the same Saleh.’ ProphetSaleh explained, ‘Almighty God gives the appearance to whomsoever He Pleases. He is the One who has given me this appearance to test you.’ But they remained stubborn in their disbelief.Finally Prophet Saleh turned his attention to the third group. This group was steadfast in its faith.Prophet Saleh approached them and introduced himself as Saleh - the same prophet who had left their nation years ago. The group asked him, ‘If you are Saleh, then inform us about past.’ Prophet Saleh revealed, ‘I got the She-camel for you. She used to drink water for one day and you used to drink water on the next day.’ The group replied, ‘We accept you as the same Prophet Saleh. We only wanted to test you before accepting you.’ In this manner, only one small group accepted, while the majority rejected him. He lived on this earth for five hundred and eighty six (586) years.

The Holy Quran says: Abraham was certainly a model of faith for the people, obedient to God and upright, and was not an idolater but grateful to Him for His favors; so He chose him and guided him on the right path, and gave him what is good in this world, and in the hereafter he will be amongst the righteous ones. (16:120-122)King Namrud son of Canaan ruled the city of Babylon; he was a proud man and forced thepeople to believe in him as their God. He used to imprisoned and killed people. He took whatever he wanted of their crops. Since the people were idolaters,who already worshipping idols of wood and stone, they accepted this additional chain of slavery around their necks because they were afraid of his power. After some time, Almighty God decided to send Prophet Abraham to these people so they maybe guided.

A short while before Prophet Abraham was born; Namrud was told by his high rank astrologers that a child would soon be born in this country. He would stand against him and tell the people to stop worshipping idols. Instead he will invite people to a new religion.Namrud who was terribly horrified, commanded his agents to somehow prevent his birth. To prevent such danger arising in his kingdom, Namrud ordered all male babies born in that year killed. Contact between men and women should be avoided, and if pregnant women bore boys, they boys should be killed. But in spite of the extreme alertness of Namrud’s cruel agents, through God’s will the embryo Prophets Hud & Saleh (Wadi al-Salam / Najaf-Iraq)

of Abraham developed in the womb of his mother, she had shown no signs of pregnancy when she carried him, so she knew that her baby was special.Abraham’s mother who was very much afraid of Namrud’s agents had left the city before giving birth to her kid. She hid herself in a cave in the desert. This wasthe cave in which Abraham was born in the city of Kawthariya, near Ur and Babylon. She then covered the child with a cloth, closed the mouth of the cave with stonesand returned home without the child. She told nobody of what had happened.The child was all alone in the cave with no one to care for him. When he become hungry, he used to suckle his own fingers. Almighty God caused milk to flow from his fingers and thus provided him with a source of food. The child grew up under God's protection. From time to time, his mother would come secretly to the cave to watch him.Abraham gradually grew up in this cave and when he was thirteen (13), he secretly came back to the city with his mother. His father, Taraq, had already died, so he was adopted by Azar, uncle (his father’s brother). Azar was a famous sculptor who used to make idols out of stone. His sons used to sell these idols to the people. Azar gave Prophet Abraham the same job as his sons.

Even in his young age, Prophet Abraham already believed in God and he hated idols. On the first day of his job, he tied a rope around some idols and dragged them through the dirt to the market-place.

He then called to the people, “Come and buy these lifeless idols who have no understanding and wisdom and no power to do any good or cause you any loss.”The people looked at the dirty idols and were angry at the disrespect that Prophet Abraham had shown to their Gods. They complained to Azar and Prophet Abraham was not allowed to sell any more idols.

As time passed, Prophet Abraham tried to show the people the error of their ways. He firstapproached his uncle, who was like a father to him, and advised him to worship God and abandon the idols. The Holy Quran records his conversation with Azar in the following verses:O my father! Serve not the Satan; surely the Satan is disobedient to the Beneficent God: O my father! Surely I fear that a punishment from the Beneficent God should afflict you so that you should be afriend of the Satan. He said: Do you dislike my Gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist I will certainly revile you, and leave me for a time. He said: Peace be on you, I will pray to my Lord to forgive you;surely He is ever Affectionate to me: (19:44-47)

Although he was unsuccessful with Azar, Prophet Abraham did not lose hope and began preaching to the people. He used to tell them, “Can your idols hear you? Can they ever help you or harm you?” They would say, “We worship them because our forefathers worshipped them.” Prophet Abraham would then teach them that only God, the Creator of the heavens and earth, should be worshipped.

Although the people could not answer Prophet Abraham’s arguments against their idols, they were stubborn and only a few people listened to him and began worshipping unique God.

Abraham and a sign of Resurrection The Almighty God appointed Abraham to guide thedeceived people and idolaters. So He was honored to be granted the high position of Prophethood.

Abraham had a faithful heart, he had no doubt about his God’s power but he wanted the reality of things to become clear to him and thus invest his insight. So hesincerely asked his God to show him how His greatness could revive the dead and bestow life upon them. He was so addressed by God: “Haven’t you believed resurrection(giving life to the dead) yet?”Abraham said: “I do have faith but I am eager to see the reality of things to make certain and strengthen my faith.” Since, Abraham had no intention but being reassured.The Almighty sent him a revelation: “Catch four (4) birds and after killing them, mash them all together into a pile then, divide the pile to four different parts and put each part on the peak of a mountain,call them one by one and you shall see that they will be revived at our order and shall come to you.”Prophet Abraham did so and when he called them by saying, come to me with the permission of Almighty, the pieces gathered from the piles and joined together to make four birds once again alive through God’s will. Abraham observed one of the greatest manifestations of God’s power in making the dead alive. His heart already full of faith was then even more reassured. He prostrated to God, the Almighty.Abraham tthe lleader off tthe monottheiistts When Abraham noticed that people didn’t accept to leave idolatry, he decided to break idols and provetheir inability and weakness. He got his chance during the annual festival, which was held outside the town,young and old, had left the town to celebrate the day. Prophet Abraham pretended to be sick and stayed home. When he found the city deserted of people and the idol templewithout any guards as he easily stepped in the idol temple (Ziggurat), and walkedaround. Idols were decorated with different ornaments and were placed all aroundthe idol temple according to their ranks and importance. Then, joking and with contempt, he showed them the food and said: “Don’t you eat food?” He got no answer, so he askedagain jokingly: “Why don’t you say something?” Again he heard no answer. Abraham, who was determined in carrying out his mission, shattered all the idols into pieces except the big one (Mardukh, the God of Gods) then hung his axe on its shoulder and left the temple.The most important God was “Sin”, the moon-god. It was personified as a humanwith a long beard, wearing a dress carrying a moon on itin the shape of a crescent.

People having performed the ceremonies, returned to the city, but when they saw the mess in the temple as well as the broken idols, they became so shocked and angry. You could hear some saying: “We know the young man who’s done this. He is the one, who always insults the idols, his name is Abraham. He believes it’s foolish to worship idols and he reproaches us for doing that, we believe he has broken our idols.”

Namrud came to the temple because something dangerous had happened. He feared for his throne, so he ordered Abraham to be arrested. He ordered him to be tried in the temple. The Judge sat beside Namrud in the temple, which was full of people. The soldiers brought the young man, Abraham. They made him stand before Namrud and the Judge.The trial started with the Judge’s questions.

The Judge asked Abraham: “We know that you mock our Gods. We also know that you don’t celebrate the arrival of spring as the people of Babylon do. Now, tell us who has broken our Gods. Have you broken them, Abraham?”

Abraham answered firmly: “How do you know, it must have been done by the biggest idol, which is standing safe. Ask him about it and get reassured of course if he is able to answer your question.”

All the people looked at the biggest of the gods, which was carrying an axe on one of its shoulders. They knew that it can not speak.The Judge said: “But our idols do not talk or answer questions.” Now Prophet Abraham took the opportunity to make the people understand how useless their idols were. He said, “Shame on you!

How can you worship pieces of wood and stone, instead of great unique God? They do not know anything and can neither harm nor benefit you.”Namrud remembered the prophecy of astrologers: “A person will be born, and he will destroy your kingdom.” Thus, he said with anger: “Abraham has committed a crime! Judge you must punish him to please our idols!” All the people stood up for Namrud and supported him.

Then Namrud said: “We must protect our sacred God’s! We must punish Abraham by throwing him into the fire!” The people began to shout, “Burn him alive! Let him be with his Lord.”

Very few people felt sad for Abraham. Among them were Sarah, Abraham’s cousin, and Prophet Lut Abraham’s nephew. Sarah believed Abraham’s words. Prophet Lut was a wise man. He believed inGod, the One and only, and the message of Prophet Abraham.Abraham on fire Prophet Abraham was arrested and imprisoned. Then Namrud ordered that wood be collected tomake a huge bonfire. Soon after a heap of firewood was prepared they set it on fire and made a huge fire out of it in the middle of the desert. The fire burnt fiercely and widely for days and days. It had generated so much heat that no bird dared to fly nearby. The dancing flames of fire were so outstretched and hot that nobody could even get close. The people of Babylon retreated so that the fire would not burn them. Abraham’s hands were tied. The fortune tellers thought that he would be afraid of the fire, and that he would apologize to them for destroying their Gods.

was waiting calmly for his fate, for he believed in God and was not afraid of anybody or anything except Him. It is related that when Prophet Abraham was being thrown into the fire, the angels in the heaven and the birds in the air cried in protest.At the appointed day on which Prophet Abraham was to be put in the fire and burnt, Namrud with his large army and followers came out to that place to watch. On seeing the huge fire and the intense heat,he began to ponder as to how it would be possible to convey Prophet Abraham into the fire.

In the mean time a lizard slithered as close to the fire as he could get. With water in his little mouth he spit it at the fire trying to douse it. The other animals around him seeing him said, “What difference will it make?” The lizard replied: “On the day of Judgment (Qiyama), when I will come before my Creator, I will say that I tried my best.”

Namrud decided to build a large catapult and Prophet Abraham was thrown into the fire using this catapult. So they used a large catapult to throw Abraham into fire to console themselves and decrease their rage. When Prophet Abraham was flying in the air towards the fire, the angel Gabriel (Jibraeel) came to ask him if he needed his help. Prophet Abraham replied, “It is a matter between my Lord andme I do not want any one to intervene.” As God the Glorified, created fire and gave it the ability to bum, He was able to take that ability away from it.

At first, Abraham was disappeared in the fire and peoplethinking that he was burnt, started to shout happily. Butit was through God’s will that the flames of fire got cold forAbraham and did not harm him. The area on which Abraham fellbecame a beautiful garden of flowers, but the fire surrounded thegarden. Namrud and his followers were amazed to see ProphetAbraham sitting calmly and comfortably in the middle of theburning fire, realized that fire had done no harm to Abraham.

While they were all gazing admiringly of this heavenly miracle and sign of God, they understood the righteousness of Abraham’s invitationand the truthfulness of his words and claims. But even then they did not learn any lesson and had something up their sleeves, especially Namrud, remained proud and stubborn.The dispute between Namrud and Abraham After Abraham was unbelievably saved from that huge fire Namrud’s followers and especially he himself become very much surprised by this divine miracle. So Namrud called Abraham and asked him: “Who is this God that you invite people to and you want them to worship?”

Prophet Abraham replied to Namrud, “I worship Almighty God Who gives life to the dead and brings death the living.” Namrud said, “This is nothing, I can also do that. Do you want to know how? I’ll show you right away. Just watch it.”

He clapped his hand and commanded his guards: “Bring me twoprisoners? One who has been sentenced to imprisonment and theother has been sentenced to death.” The guards brought him twochained prisoners to his presence.Namrud commanded the swordsman: “Cut off the head of the prisoner.Then release the one who has sentenced to death.”

Namrud turned to Abraham and asked him: “Did you see what I did. I brought death to the prisoner who was only sentenced to imprisonment and gave life to the one sentenced to death.” Namrud himself know this is not true. Because, He wanted to burn Abraham but God saved him from the burning.

Prophet Abraham refrained from discussing with Namrud on such a matter, for what Namrud had done was incorrect. For this reason he asked him: “I worship my Lord, for He makes the sun rise in the east. Can you make it rise in the west?”

Namrud was astonished at Abraham’s question, for no one had asked him such question before. However, Namrud kept silent. He was unable to answer. But remained stubborn and did not accept the religion of Prophet Abraham.

After some years, our Prophet Abraham married his believing cousin, Sarah. Sarah was a beautiful, wise and rich young lady; she owned land and cattle, so she gave everything to her husband Abraham.

Prophet Abraham worked on his farms and grazed cattle. God blessed him, so his land bloomed, and his cattle increased.Namrud knew that he could not harm Prophet Abraham, because he was under the protection of God.

So he ordered Prophet Abraham to leave his kingdom and stopped everybody from following his religion.Prophet Abraham thus left his homeland with his family and sheep. He took with him his wife Sarah and his nephew Prophet Lut and left for Egypt.

After some time, Namrud the tyrant king had expressed his desire to fight the army of God. And there was a host of mosquitoes, descended from above, which ate the flesh and drank the blood of the people.

It is stated that one of the mosquito entered the nostrils of Namrud and reached his brain and he met a painful death.

The Migration

After this eventful episode, Prophet Abraham left thecity of Babylon in disgust and migrated towards Egyptto start the monotheist community. Prophet Abraham,his wife Sarah, and his nephew Prophet Lut arrived at a placeknown as Ghazaza in the kingdom of the Egypt.During this journey Prophet Abraham had kept his wifeSarah in a box. At Ghazaza the custom officer Al-Ashir askedProphet Abraham to open the box and show its contents.Prophet Abraham asked the officer to take as much duty ashe liked but not to open it. In spite of persistentrequest by Prophet Abraham the officer openedthe box and found Sarah she was extremely beautiful.He informed the king of Egypt.

King on seeing Sarah could not resist his temptation. He stretched his hand towards her.Prophet Abraham asked Almighty to protect Sarah from the wicked King. God, the Glorified accepted his prayer. He supported His Prophet Abraham and paralyzed the King’s hand. The King of Egypt was unable to touch Sarah. He knew that the Lord of Abraham prevented him from doing that. Thus,he asked Abraham: “Has your Lord prevented me from doing this?”

Abraham replied: “Yes. Indeed my Lord is Merciful.”The King of Egypt explained: “Your Lord is Merciful. You are also merciful, so ask your lord to heal my hand, and I’ll never do anything like that again.”

Prophet Abraham asked God to heal the King’s hand and He, the Glorified, healed his hand. But the king again repeated what he did in the beginning. Abraham’s prayer again cursed him and again for the third time the king did what he did before. This time Abraham took a promise from the king not to repeat in which case he would not invoke God. Then Abraham prayed, “O my Lord, if this man is truly sorry, then change his hand to its original form.”

Through this prayer, the king was cured. He was impressed with the power of Prophet Abraham, and accepted his faith. He treated Prophet Abraham with great respect & presented him with a beautiful well-behaved maid Hagar (Hajira), to serve Sarah, and allowed them to go wherever they wanted.

Abraham and the star worshiipers

Then again Prophet Abraham migrated towards Palestine (Baytul Muqaddas), from Egypt after growing rich and possessing enough livestock and wealth. On his way to Palestine andJerusalem, Abraham happened to see a group of star worshipers who were praising starsinstead of Almighty God. These people were called the Magi. Abraham, getting aware of their great misttke, decided to show them God’s way and save their lives. To achieve his goal. Abraham pretended to have the same religion as theirs.

At night when everything had gone under a veil of darkness, Abraham said: “My God is this star.” But soon afterwards, the star set and disappeared from the views. Abraham said: “I don’t like the God who sets down.”

After a while, the moon appeared from a corner in the horizon. Abraham, while the star worshipers were listening to him, looked at the moon and said: “This is my God. This one is bigger than that star.”

By the end of the night the moon set too. Prophet Abraham said: If my God doesn’t guide me, I’ll surely be misled. The next morning Prophet Abraham pointed to the sun rising from the east. He stared at Sun’s glory and brightness and said: “This should be my God. This one is bigger and brighter than all the stars.”

And finally, at the time when the sun, like the moon and all the stars set and disappeared in the horizon he pretended to be very much discouraged and showed great displeasure from idolatry, he said:

“I disgust these ever-changing things. I shall praise the God who is the creator of the earth and heavens. I only worship Him and I shall reject all these dualists in this way.”Abraham justified the way of God and draws their attention towards the real deity. But those misled men in stead of accepting Abraham’s words, opened up a dispute with him. Prophet Abraham Said:

“Are you arguing about the God who has guided us and showed the right path to His creatures.” The star worshipers, releasing that they could not have any influence on Abraham, and had failed to make him charge his idea regarding God, so they started to threaten and warn him against the stars’ anger. For Abraham, these threatening were only ridiculous because he was fully aware that there was no power in the world more effective than that of God and stars were only powerless things under the command of the creator of the earth and heavens. Then Prophet Abraham continued his journeytowards Palestine. When he arrived at the coast of the Dead Sea, he left Prophet Lut at the land of Sodom to summon its people to believe in God and to do good. As for Abraham, he went to the city of al-Khalil in Palestine and lived in that city for many years.

Prophet Abraham saw a beautiful valley surrounded by hills, in Palestine. So he stopped to rest and pitched his tents in that wide valley. Then he let his cattle graze. This valley was used by travelers, so for this reason travelers visited Abraham. Prophet Abraham received them well and talked with good words, and then he supplied them with fresh water and delicious food to eat and bed to sleep. This good quality of his is described in the Quran. Every morning Prophet Abraham stood by the main road near his house and waited for travelers to pass. As soon he saw them he invited them to his house to be his guests. Prophet Abraham liked this good deed very much. It pleased him to makeother people happy and comfortable.

Thus, Prophet Abraham would everyday bring home one guest at least. If he came across no traveler even for a day he would become unhappy. Without having a guest, he would not touch food himself.Prophet Abraham preached to his guests. He wanted the people to worship God, the One and only. He did not want them to associate any partner with God. Days and years passed. People understood that Abraham was a good, generous person. They were familiar with his morals, generosity, and love for guests. They knew his righteousness, worship, and piety.

Prophett Abraham and tthe olld man Once it so happened that no traveler passed that way for three days running.This, naturally, upset Prophet Abraham. It made him sad. Without having a guest on his table he would not eat. Each morning Prophet Abraham went to the main road hopefully. He would strain his eyes far away to the horizon.

Yet no traveler was to be seen. Each evening he would return to his home disappointed.Three days passed. One morning an old man appeared on a camel. Prophet Abraham was happy. He invited the old man to his home to eat with him The old man accepted the invitation.

In the house they set to eat. Prophet Abraham recited BISMILLAH (In the name of Almighty God) before taking the food, but the old man did not say anything. Prophet Abraham asked why he did not remember Almighty God before taking his meal. Was not Almighty our Creator, our Nourishing Master? Was it not proper to remember Him before partaking of the food provided by Him?

The old man said that it was not the custom in his religion. Prophet Abraham asked him what his religion was. He said that he was one of those who worship fire. Prophet Abraham was very much annoyed and turned the old man out.As soon as the old man went away, the Angel Gabriel (Gibraeel) came to Prophet Abraham, from Almighty God. Gabriel told Prophet Abraham that Almighty had been feeding this unbeliever person for seventy years. Could not Prophet Abraham tolerate him for even one meal! Prophet Abraham felt very sorry for this. He immediately ran after the old man. Finally he reached him and persuaded him to return to his house to have food together. He finally succeeded in getting the old man to his home.

Moral: (1.) However good you may be, it does not give you right to judge other persons. (2.) You should always seek the forgiveness and pleasure of God. (3.) Always entertain and please a guest.Prophet Abraham and his wife Sarah became old and Sarah was a barren woman. Sarah loved her husband. She did not want him to be sad, thus she asked him one evening: “Do you want to have children?” “That’s up to God’s will,” replied Prophet Abraham “I’m satisfied with that.” Sarah, the righteous woman, explained: “I want to have a baby. I want to look after him. I will love it.” “How will that happen?” asked Prophet Abraham.Sarah answered: “Friend of the Merciful (God), I will give you my slave girl Hagar. Marry her. May God give you children from her.” “Sarah, I don’t want you to be sad because of me,” explained Abraham.

“Friend of the Merciful (God), I will not be sad. Rather, I will be glad,” commented Sarah.Sarah gave Hagar to her husband and Prophet Abraham married the slave girl Hagar, so at this stage he prayed My Lord! Grant me of the doers (son) of good deeds. Prophet Abraham’s prayers were granted by Almighty, So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. Prophet Abraham was eighty six (86) years old when Prophet Ishmael was born. Prophet Abraham was very happy and delighted to have this son and was very proud of him. The new-born son was the apple of his father’s eye and when Sarah watched the two of them, she was sad that she could not have a child.

So, she grew jealous of Hagar. Sarah wanted to get rid of her jealousy. She did not want to bear malice against Hagar. So she said to her husband Abraham: “Now, I don’t want to see Hagar. When I see her, I’m jealous of her. I don’t want to enter the fire because of jealousy.”

Hence she asked Prophet Abraham to take Hagar and her son to some other place out of her sight and Abraham accepted her request. God, the Most High, ordered Prophet Abraham to take Hagar and Ishmael to the land of Hijaz (Saudi Arabia). Prophet Abraham obeyed God’s order. He took his wife Hagar and Ishmael and headed for the south to an unknown place.

They walked through barren, wide deserts. When Prophet Abraham saw a beautiful place or a grassy valley, he looked at the sky, and hoped that he arrived at the promised place, but the angel told him that he had not reached the land of Hijaz yet.

After many long days and nights, Prophet Abraham arrived in a barren land. The land was a dry valley. It had neither trees nor water. It was full of sand and stones. Rocky Mountains surrounded the valley. The angel came down to Prophet Abrahamand said to him: “You have arrived in the Sacred Land. You should leave Hagar and Ishmael here. Return back to Palestine.”

Prophet Abraham knew nothing except obedience to God. The sight of Hagar and Ishmael all alone in that wild place was moving, so he wept for them. Hagar asked her husband: “Why do you leave us in this wild place?” Prophet Abraham answered with sadness “Surely, God has ordered me to do this” Hagar believed in God and the message of her husband, so she said in confidence: “As God has ordered you to do this, He will not forget us!”

Prophet Abraham went back to Palestine to Sarah after making a small shelter to Hagar and her one year old infant. According to the Holy Quran, he prayed: “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks.” (14:37) Refer (14:35-38, 40-41) for further prayer.

Abraham disappeared in the distant horizon. Hagar was unable to see him. She firmly believed that God would look after her and her baby. During the day she collected some wood. When the evening came, she burnt the wood and made a loaf of bread. She spent most nights looking at the sky full of stars. Several days passed. She used up all the water in her water-skin and food supply. The thirst as well as hunger gradually weakened them both. Hagar walked about the valley to look for water but unfortunately she found no trace of water. No body passed through the valley and no bird flew in its sky.Ishmael, the baby, wept because he was thirsty. Hagar looked at her baby with kindness. Then she asked herself. “What will I do?

Where can I get water in this desert?” Suddenly her heart was full of the feelings of motherhood. She said to herself. I must do something. I must find water in thisland. “Perhaps there is a small stream or a spring of water beyond that mountain. Perhaps a good person has dug a well beyond that hill for travelers.” Hagar rose again to find water. She was afraid that a wolf or a hyena would eat her baby. However, she sawnothing except some thistles here and there, so she ran towards al-Safa Mountain quickly. She hoped that she would find water. Hagar stopped at the top of the mountain. She looked at the valley and saw something like the waves of water, thus she descended towards the valley. However, there was nothing except sand. What she saw in the middle of the valley was a mere mirage.

Hagar came back running to her baby. Then she looked at al-Marwa Mountain. She hoped that she would find water beyond it. She ran very quickly. Sand was rising under her feet. She saw something like water. So she ran quickly but she saw nothing except a mirage. She did not hear Ishmael cry because she went far away. So she came back quickly feeling quite miserable. She heard him crying bitterly in the distance. She thought that he was looking for her or that he was afraid.

This caused her to go and search again though she did not have enough power for that. Again she began running between the al-Safa and al-Marwa Mountain. She was repeated again and again for seven (7) times until there was no strength left for her. Thus, she put together all her efforts to get back to her son and be by his side in those last minutes, watching her dying son with broken heart. Then she looked at the sky and said at the top of her voice: “My Lord!” she suddenly noticed a current of water gushing up like a big spring from beneath Ishmael’s little feet out of sand. This filled her with great heavenly joy and praying to God, she quenched his son with that cold water.

She made a small wall all around the water because she wanted the water to be a well. Later people called the well Zamzam (meaning abundant water).Note: And thereafter Sayee became a religious tradition and each year pilgrims run between al-Safa and al-Marwa Mountain seven times in memory of Hagaras she run for her infant Ishmael’s thirst.

Little by little the birds came flying over this spring and the Bedouins people of Jarham tribe, a nearby village, noticing the flock of birds flying over special spots rushedto the place, found the spring as well as Hagar and her son. Upon enquiring Hagar replied to them: “I’m the wife of Abraham, the Friend of the Merciful (God).”

The members of the tribe of Jarham were good people, thus they asked Hagar the permission to reside over there. Hagar replied: “You have to wait till I ask the Friend of the Merciful (God) for permission.”

The, members of the tribe of Jarham pitched their tents near the valley. They waited till prophet Abraham came.Prophet Abraham asked his wife Sarah to allow him to visit his second wife and see his son. Prophet Abraham came. He saw the tents and camels grazing around. He rejoiced at the arrival of that Arab tribe and the area was full of life.

The members of the tribe of Jarham came and asked Abraham to permit them to inhabit the valley. Abraham permitted them. In turn they gave Ishmael many lambs. They pitched a tent for him and his mother to protect them from the sun’s heat and winter rain and thus a new town flourished by leaps and bounds around the spring of Zamzam.

Hagar gradually became used to them and living peacefully among them, she no more had the fear of being left alone. This was the fulfillment of Abraham’s pray to God asking him to take care of them.

Ishmael grew up and learned the language of the Arabs. He was a good young man. He inherited the manners of his father, Abraham.When some time has passed, Ishmael became friendly with the tribe of Jarham and married a girl from there tribe. On one occasion when Prophet Abraham had come to see his son and by chance Ishmael was not at home, he did not like the attitude of Ishmael’s wife and considered her unsuitable for Ishmael. He left a message for Ishmael to change the threshold of his home. Ishmael understood the real meaning of this message. He divorced his wife, and then married another woman who was suitable in all respects; and God granted him several sons from this wife. He lived on this earth for One hundred and thirty seven (137) years

One day three (3) guests came to Abraham and greeted him politely. Prophet Abraham went quickly to his cattle and brought back a fat ram. He slaughtered the ram and made a good meal (roasted calf) for his guests. Now, a wonderful thing happened. Prophet Abraham saw that his guests did not eat the food. When the guests understood that Prophet Abraham became worried, they said to him: “Abraham, don’t worry. We are God’s angels to the land of Sodom. He has sent us to punish the people of Sodom.” (11:69-76)

Prophet Abraham felt tranquility. However, he thought about the fate of the people of Sodom. So be disputed with the angels, saying: “Lut is in the land of Sodom.” The angels explained: “We know the people of Sodom. God has ordered us to destroy this village and its people, except Lut and his daughters.”The people of Sodom were unbelievers and behaved badly. They attacked travelers and they hurt their Prophet Lut.Prophet Abraham asked himself. “Why have the angels come here, instead off going directly to Sodom?” The angels gave good news to Prophet Abraham. They said to him: “Your old wife, Sarah, will bear you a son.”

Sarah heard the good news of the angels, so she wondered at that and said: “Shall I bear a son when I am such an old woman and when my husband is such an old man? Most surely this is a wonderful thing.” The angel said: “Do you wonder at God’s order? The mercy of God and His blessings are on you, O people of the house. Surely He is Praised, Glorious.”

Sarah and Prophet Abraham rejoiced at the good news of the angels. However, Prophet Abraham was sad for the people of Lut. He wanted to turn away God’s wrath from them, but the angels told him that God’s wrath would befall on them.The angels left the house of Prophet Abraham and went away to carry out their task in the land of Sodom. After some time God rewarded Sarah for her patience and though she was very old, she gave birth to a son, Isaac (Ishaq). He was five (5) years younger than his elder brother Ishmael. Prophet

Abraham was one hundred (100) years old and Sarah ninety (90) years at the birth of their son Isaac. Sarah died at the age of one hundred twenty seven (127) years.Prophet Isaac at the age of forty (40) years got married to Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor (brother of Prophet Abraham). By this wife Isaac had twins both sons. They were Esau (Al Eis) and Jacob / Isreal (Yaqub). He lived on this earth for one hundred and eighty (180) years.

Reconstruction of the Kaaba After coming to Hejaz (Makkah), Abraham said to his son: “I have been commanded by God to re-build a house in this desert.” Abraham was referring to Kaaba, the house which had been built by Prophet Adam the Sacred House of God to be the mark of God’s Oneness in the world, and now he was going to reconstruct it. Hearing this, Ishmael informed his father of his readiness to accompany him in God’s name.With their firm wills, they started to reconstruct the house. There is a spot near the Kaaba where Prophet Abraham stood while erecting the Holy house and where he offered his prayers to God saying:

“Thou Great God do accept this very trivial service of ours. Thou art the knower and the Hearer. Thus, with this divine aid place us among your faithful followers and make a superior generation from our family. Thou the most Magnificent; teach us the pilgrimage rituals and accept our repentance for thou art the only Merciful God who accepts repentance.”

The process of reconstructing of Kaaba the house of God was going on,Ishmael, the young man was gathering big pieces of stone and rocksfrom the desert and Abraham, the old man was busy putting them oneupon the other until the walls were set up.

After they completed the house Gabriel, God’s favorite angel, who wasall the time guiding Abraham brought the black stone (Hijr-ul-Aswad), from the heavenly garden and inserted it in its proper place. Then Abraham started praying to God: “My God make this land a safe peaceful place and feed its residents with different fruit and edible things.”

Prophet Abraham further prayed: Our Lord! And make us both submissive to Theeand (raise) from our offspring a nation submitting to Thee, and show us our waysof devotion and turn to us (mercifully), surely Thou art the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful... (2:127-129)

The above mentioned verse throws light on the fact that there had always beensome men and women in the Progeny of Prophet Abraham, who were “trueMuslims.” He further prayed: Our Lord! And raise up in them a Messenger from among them who shall recite to them Thy communications and teach them the Book and the wisdom, and purify them; surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise. (2:129) Almighty God granted Prophet Abraham’s prayer and raised Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from amongst them, Peace be on Prophet Abraham.

Therefore, the foundation of theism and unity was set in Makkah bythe endeavor of Abraham, the forerunner of monotheism, and hisnoble son, Ishmael. Following this, Abraham was appointed to invitepeople to perform the ritual of encompassing the house of Kaaba. Hewas obeying God’s orders which said: “And thou Abraham! Invitepeople to perform pilgrimage rituals so that all types of people fromevery place, for and close, come to you and be the witness of the benefitsgranted to them. Tell them to say God’s name on special daysand We will grant them sustenance from Our earthly animals. Thoutell them to eat from these edibles and feed the poor too. Tell them toabandon the prohibited deeds keep their promises and vows and performthe ritual of encompassing the house of Kaaba.” Abrahamannounced what God had commanded him to all the people and afterthat pilgrimage became one of the obligatory rituals for all Muslims.Thus, the Kaaba was the first house to be built for people accordingto God’s order a place for worshipping (3:96-97). In it there are clearsigns such as the standing place of Abraham. Whoever enters it issafe. The Kaaba had two doors one facing the east, the other facingthe west. Prophet Abraham gathered plants with good smell andhanged them on the doors of the Kaaba. Hagar, Ishmael’s mother,came and gave cloth as a gift to cover the Kaaba.

In that year no one performed the Hajj pilgrimage except Prophet Abraham, Ishmael, and Hagar. The angel Gabriel come down to Prophet Abraham and taught him how to perform the Hajj. They took water from the Zamzam Well and washed their bodies. They wore white clothes and went around the Kaaba seven times. They performed their prayers and asked God to accept their deeds.

Then they went to cross the valley of al-Safa and al-Marwa Mountain. There Hagar remembered her terrible state on that day twelve years ago. That was when Ishmael was a baby.She remembered the time when Ishmael was crying and she was looking for water. She also remembered when she crossed the valley seven (7) times looking for water, and when she supplicated to God.

Moreover, she remembered the time when God, the Glorified, made water gush out at Ishmael’s feet. God, our Lord, wanted these events to stay alive in the memory ofpeople. He wanted them to remember that God, the Glorified, hadpower over all things. Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael went up on al-SafaMountain. They humbly looked at the House of God and said:

“There is no God but God. He is One and only. There is no partnerwith Him. Kingdom and praise belong to Him. He gives life (tocreatures) and makes (them) die. He has power over all things.

Abraham loved Ishmael very much and knew him as a gift from God. God wanted to testAbraham’s love for Himself and so ordered Abraham to give Ishmael back to Him as an offering.The angel Gabriel came down to Prophet Abraham and ordered him to take water and goto the Arafat and Mina Mountains. Prophet Abraham spent the night there looking at the sky full of stars. He looked at the stars which looked like lamps. He knew that God created them, so he prostrated to God, the Creator. All good attributes belong to God. God gives life to (creatures) and makes (them) die.

Prophet Abraham closed his eyes and slept. He dreamt that he is slaughtering his thirteen (13) years old son Ishmael by his own hands. When he woke up, he saw that his son was sleeping. So he slept again. Since then the eighth (8) day of Dhul Hijjah has been called the Day of Quenching (Yawm-e- arwiyah / The Day of the First Dream). Prophet Abraham often received God’s commands in his dreams, but because he was being asked to actually kill his son, he wondered whether it was real.

On the next day he saw the same shocking dream and wasnow quite sure that his dream was a divine inspirationfrom God and was far from the devilish temptations ofSatan. Knowing this truth, and with a heart full of faith, hetried to prepare himself to obey God’s command accordingly.Prophet Abraham loved his son Ishmael very much.However, he loved God even more. Thus, the ninth (9) dayof Dhul Hijjah is known as The Day of Sure Knowledge(Yawm-e-Arafa).

However, was Ishmael ready to sacrifice himself for God? This made Prophet Abraham sad. When Ishmael saw his father sad, he asked him: “Father, why are you sad?”Abraham turned to his obedient, pious, and good son, and said: “I’m sad because I saw a dream, in which I had sacrificed you. Do you know the meaning of it?”Ishmael understood that God, the Glorified, ordered his Apostle Abraham to sacrifice his son. Ishmael loved his father very much. He knew that his father behaved according to God’s orders. So he asked “Do you want to slay me father?”Abraham had no time to think, for God had ordered him to sacrifice his son Ishmael. So, he said “yes.” Ishmael who was the son of a faithful and honorable man and himself a pious subject of God said:

“Father! Carry out your mission just as you were commanded and in God’s will you shall find me to be among the most patient subjects.” Prophet Abraham rejoiced at Ishmael’s words. Ishmael was loyal and obedient to his father, He believed in God and His Apostle.Prophet Abraham asked his wife Hagar to prepare her son for a journey. Beforedeparting, Abraham asked Hagar to let him have a knife and a rope, whichmight be of use in case had to offer some sacrifice. Hagar thought thatAbraham and Ishmael are going to collect wood.

When Prophet Abraham took his son outside to carry out the sacrifice, Satan the ‘cursed one’ met him in the form of wise man and said to him, “Oh, good Abraham, you are so old and this boy can help you in your old age. How can you lose him so easily?” Abraham took seven (7) small stones and threw it at Satan. After going further again, Satan came again in a different form and talked to Ishmael. He said, “O’ young boy, why do you obey this old man and allow him slay you? Run away and go back to your sad mother!”

Ishmael and Abraham again threw stones at him and he ran away.He came back again and tried for a third time but failed to makethem change their minds and disobey God, the Almighty.

And thereafter Ramy Jamrah became a religious tradition and each year pilgrims throw seven (7) pebbles at each Jamrah in memory of father and son.In the desert of Mina Abraham laid his son’s head down on the ground and prepared to perform his heavenly mission. Ishmael looked at his father. He saw that his eyes were full of tears. He also wept for his father, who was an old man. He wanted to end the matter quickly. So he said to his father:“Dear father now that I am destined to die tie the rope so tight that while my soul is parting from my body. I won't struggle much lest I would enjoy less reward for obeying this divine command. I shall also ask you not to stand too close to me for my blood may splash up on you and your clothes and mother noticing the blood stains won't be able to keep her patience. Also blind fold your eyes to avoid seeing me dying. Meanwhile, sharpen your knife as much as possible so that I have the least pain while my head is being cut off because death is far too hard to stand.”Prophet Abraham wept and said: “My little son, you’re the best helper against God’s order.” He tied Ishmael’s hands & legs strongly.

Ishmael completely submitted to God’s order and closed his eyes. Prophet Abraham then took out the knife put it on the neck of Ishmael and passed it several times with his great heartily sorrow.Thus Prophet Abraham acted on the Command of His Lord. When Prophet Abraham removed the fold from his eye, he noticed his son standing safe and a ram lay slain.Prophet Abraham was rather disappointed thinking that his Lord did not accept his sacrifice. At that juncture God sent him the divine revelation which said: “We called out to him O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision! thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times.” (37: 104-108) The Almighty God having examined Abraham’s devotion sent a ram to be sacrificed instead of Ishmael. The great sacrifice is actually Imam Hussain’s(who belonged to the pedigree of Prophet Abraham through Prophet Mohammad) martyrdom in the battle of Karbala and for the sake of Islam’s survival. After his son had been saved, Prophet Abraham left for Palestine to return to Sarah.

And thereafter sacrificing an animal became a religious tradition in Mina and eachyear pilgrims sacrifice an animal in that desert in memory of Ishmael’s sacrificingday. Muslims go to Makkah every year to perform the Hajj pilgrimage (Eid-ul-Adha). They remember the story of Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar, who were loyaland obedient to God. They do it according to Abraham’s religion. Abraham’s religionis the religion of Islam.

The Holy Quran says: Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to God’s (Which is Islam), and he joined not God’s with God. Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Abraham, are those who follow him, as are also this Prophet and those who believe:

And God is the Protector of those who have faith. (3:67-68)Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in God. This is one of the favors of our Prophet Abraham.Prophet Abraham is called the father of the Prophets because; Prophet Moses (Moosa) is from the progeny of Prophet Isaac, son of Abraham. Prophet Jesus (Issa), son of Virgin Mary is also from the progeny of Prophet Isaac. Our Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is from the progeny of Prophet Ishmael, son of Abraham. The Imams, from the members of the House (Ahlul Bayt), also belonged to the progeny of Ishmael (pbut).

For this reason we say: “O God, bless Mohammed and the family of Mohammed as YOU blessed Abraham and the family of Abraham. YOU are the Most-Praised, The Most-Glorious. O God, bestow YOUR grace on Mohammed and the family of Mohammed as YOU bestowed it on Abraham and the family of Abraham. YOU are the Most-Praised, The Most-Glorious.”

“I am the Son of the two Slaughtered Ones.” Do you know who said this phrase?It was Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). Why did he say it? He said it because he belonged to Ishmael’s progeny.Abdul Mutalib, the grandfather of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), belonged to Ishmael’s children.Abdul Mutalib asked God, the Glorified, to give him ten sons. He vowed that if God gave him ten (10) sons he would sacrifice one of them for Him. God, the Glorified, gave Abdul Mutalib ten sons, so Abdul Mutallb said: “God has given me ten sons, so I must fulfill my vow.”

He drew lots between sons, and the lot fell upon Abdullah, the father of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh).He wanted to sacrifice him. The people of Makkah loved Abdullah very much, thus they said to Abdul Mutalib: “Don’t slay your son. Draw lots between him and camels. Give your Lord till He is satisfied.”Abdul Mutalib drew lots between his son Abdullah and ten (10) camels. However, the lot came to Abdullah. When Abdul Mutalib increased the number of the camels to one hundred (100), then the lot fell upon them. God was satisfied with this number.

Abdul Mutalib ordered his people to slaughter thecamels and divide their meat among the poor and thehungry. Abdullah was about to be sacrificed, butAlmighty God was satisfied with the camels. SoAbdullah was like Ishmael in this situation.For this reason Prophet Mohammed said: “I am theson of the two slaughtered ones.” That is because hewas the son of Abdullah son of Abdul Mutalib who was among the children of the Slaughtered One,namely Ishmael. “I testify that there is no god but Almighty God, Almighty God is One (and eternal) and has no partner, I also testify that Muhammad (pbuh) is a slave and the messenger of Almighty God.”

And when his Lord tried Abraham with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam of men. Abraham said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He. (2:124)The above mentioned verse plays an important role in the doctrine of Islam. Prophet Abraham was a great Prophet of God and had stood many tests. But before he could be offered Imamate, he had to undergo some more tests. This verse throws light on the fact that every Prophet can not be an Imam.

Even great prophet like Abraham coveted for it. It is also crystal clear from the above mentioned verse that an ‘IMAM’ can be appointed by Almighty only; and he must also be infallible. The prayer of Prophet Abraham was granted and there were twelve (12) Imams, from his pedigree.

Note: Prophet Abraham is one of the greatest Prophets of Almighty God. God, the Glorified, had known that Abraham was loyal, obedient, and submissive to His orders. He had also known that Abraham was not afraid of anybody except Him. So he chose him as a friend. The title of Prophet Abraham is “Khalilullah”, which means “Friend of Merciful God.”

It was said that Abraham lived for two hundred (200) years. Then he became a very old man. So he was unable to go to Makkah again to visit God’s House and to meet his son Ishmael. For this reason Ishmael went to Palestine to visit his father Abraham, the Friend of the Merciful (God).

When the time came for his death, he told the angel who had come to take his soul, “Ask God, Does a friend take the life of his friend?” He meant that God should not order Prophet Abraham’s death because he was His friend. The angel of death (Ezraeel), could not answer this question, so he returned to God, Who commanded him to go back to Prophet Abraham and say, “O Abraham, does a friend refuse an invitation to meet his friend?” Abraham closed his eyes and to took a rest. He passed away. He departed to God, his Friend and Creator.

Prophet Abraham ordered his two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, to summon people to believe in God, the One and only, just before joining the Most High.We ask Almighty God, the Glorified, to help Muslims free the land of Palestine, and the Mosque of Jerusalem. Then we will be able to visit the Holy Shrine of our father Abraham in the city of al-Khalil.

The Holy Quran says: And We sent Lut who said to his people: Why do you commit such indecent acts that have never been committed by anyone before? In preference to women you satisfy your lust with men. Indeed you are a people who are guilty of excess. His people had no answer to his remarks but they told one another, “Expel him from our town, he and his people profess to be pure” We saved Lut and his family except his wife who was one of those who stayed behind. (7:80-83)

Prophet Lut was the nephew of Prophet Abraham. He embraced the faith of Prophet Abraham and migrated from Babylon with him to Egypt. Again Prophet Abraham migrated towards Palestine from Egypt after growing rich and possessing enough livestock and wealth. When he arrived at the coast of the Dead Sea, he left Prophet Lut at the land of Sodom in borders of Jordan to summon its people to believe in God and to do good, as per the command of the Almighty God. Thus Prophet Lut settles down in Sodom after getting married and God gave him believing daughters.

The people of this place were wicked, bad-tempered, indecent and lustful as they indulged in abominable and immoral things. Social and moral corruption was quite prevalent among them. For instance, if any traveler passed by the town, these people used to come one by one and robbed him of his properties, goods or whatever he had and leave him alone in that miserable situation. People of Sodom, using vulgar language, gambling, playing dirty music, and throwing stones at the passers by,and indifference to filth and dirt were among their common habits. Their custom was to throw stones at guests. Whoever was the first to hit a guest, the guest would be his share.Once Prophet Abraham’s wife, Sarah sent her slave to the district of Sodom to report about the welfare of Prophet Lut. When this slave reached there a man struck him in his head with a stone and it started bleeding. That man then grabbed his collar and said, If this blood had remained inside your body it would have been harmful to you and, therefore, you should pay me for doing you this favor.

The slave refused to pay anything to the man. The matter was referred to the court of law. The Judge decreed against the slave and asked him to pay the man for the trouble he took for him. When the slave saw this high-handedness and the gross injustice, he hit the Judge with a stone and his head also started bleeding. At this he said to the Judge, “You should pay this man whatever is due to me for the trouble I took for your sake.”

Thus the people of Prophet Lut were guilty of such abominable sins the example of which was never heard before. One of such despicable acts was that they openly indulged in sodomy (homosexuality).

Besides, they committed all sorts of wanton and lewd acts including merry-making, singing, gambling and throwing of filth on passers by.Prophet Lut was a very noble person. He started to preach to them about the Unique God, informing them of the punishment awaiting evil people, and advising them and guiding them to the way of eternal bliss and happiness. He did his utmost to guide his people to give up their abominable habits and perform noble deeds. But they had gone to the extreme of moral degradation so much so that Prophet Lut’s preaching’s had no effect on them. Prophet Lut lived in that corrupt society, thus, he led a life full of sufferings.

About thirty (30) years of Prophet Lut’s teachings and guidance yielded no tangible result. Only a handful of people who could be counted on finger tips received the guidance while the rest of them remained disgustingly mean with lewd deeds. When they saw that Prophet Lut was frequently interfering with their affairs they decided to expel him and his handful of followers from the town. But Prophet Lut increased his efforts to bring them to the right path and warned them that the Wrath of God would some day overtake them without prior notice.

The condemned people as they were, they unabashedly taunted Prophet Lut to let the Divine curse befall them as they did not care at all about it. Corruption increased day by day. Lut’s sufferings also increased day by day. The people of Sodom hurt the feelings of Lut.

Prophet Lut became extremely disappointed with the insolent behavior of the people and he realized that they were the group of misguided fools and it was not appropriate to pursue with them anymore.

They had become like malignant tumor in the society and just as an organ suffering from malignancy needed amputation from the body they deserved extermination from the society. Prophet Lut then raised his arms high in the air in invoking God to send down upon them His torment.The Almighty God granted Prophet Lut’s prayers and He deputed His angels to chastise the stubborn people. First of all these three (3) angels in the guise of human beings called on Prophet Abraham in his house. He thought they were travelers who were passing by his house and who had come for an overnight stay and rest. Thus Prophet Abraham welcomed them with an open arm and served them with nicely cooked dishes but they did not even touch the meals. At this Prophet Abraham got frightened and worried. Because there were some customs at that time, among them was that the guest should eat the food offered to him. If he refused the food, he refused entertainment and bore maliceagainst the entertainer. If the guest ate the food, friendship would take place between him and the entertainer.

Then the angels in the human form introduced themselves tothe exalted Prophet and said, “We pass on to you glad news. Bythe Grace of God, you will be blessed with a son whose name willbe Isaac.”

They also told Prophet Abraham that they were on an important Divine Mission of destroying the people of Prophet Lut and were heading towards Jordan.When Prophet Abraham identified his guests his fear vanished and he interceded with them so that God’s Wrath on Prophet Lut’s people might be condoned. But the angels in reply said, “You should better keep off as God’s command has already been final now and the destruction of Prophet Lut’s

people is a foregone conclusion. Only Prophet Lut family people will remain safe except his wife who is from amongst the transgressors and who will be perished along with the rest.”After coming out of Prophet Abraham’s house, the angels assumed the shape of extremely handsome and youthful male persons and reached Sodom and knocked the door of Prophet Lut’s house. Prophet Lut became much perplexed by seeing such beautiful persons. On the one hand he desired to welcome them wholeheartedly and be hospitable with them and on the other he feared a great risk as he knew of his people’s debased mentality. There was no alternative left for Prophet Lut but to welcome themin his house and treat them nicely.

No sooner had the guests arrived at the house than the wife of Prophet Lut (Wahela) signaled to the people the arrival of beautiful young men in the house of her husband. All of them then swarmed round Prophet Lut’s house and started demanding him to hand over his guests to them for their night’s great pleasure of enjoying the company of handsome young men.

Prophet Lut pleaded with the people not to disgrace him before his noble guests and advised them to take women folk as their wives and put an end to the indecent practice of homosexuality. But the people paid no heed to his imploration and broke into his house like beasts. Prophet Lut could not help it and instead he said, “If I had any power I would have given you a good lesson by bringing you to your senses?”When the angels who had come to him realized the gravity of the situation, they revealed to Prophet Lut and said, “O Lut! We are sent by God to protect you and to punish these people.” Not a moment had passed that these people ran amok out of sheer fright and from there ran up to take shelter in their abodes. Prophet Lut then returned to his original condition as his fear was allayed by the angels. The angels counseled Prophet Lut to leave the town by midnight and go to a safe place with his family peopleexcept his wife so that the Divine Wrath and God’s terrible torment might befall his rebellious people soon. Angel Gabriel waved his arm and the people who were surrounding the house of the Prophet Lut became blindfold. In the mean time, Prophet Lut and his followers left the city of Sodom.

When Prophet Lut along with his daughters and followers had gone away to a safe place out of the town, a terrible earthquake overtook the town and rocked the earth in a terrific upside down motion and thereafter the people were hit down by pebble-stones. By this Divine Power they met with a disgraceful end. The ruins of Sodom are still standing. They are salt and burnt stones. One should learn lesson, from such eventfulepisodes and try to reform himself.

The punishment of sodomy in Islam is either to cause both theindividuals crushed by bringing them under a wall and affectingit to fall upon them or stone them to death or to slay them.

Once a slave was brought to Imam Ali (pbuh) with the charge of murdering his master. Imam Ali asked the slave as to what he had to say about the charge against him. The slave confessed and said that he could not help doing what he haddone for his master wanted to commit sodomy with him and when he did not agree with his master, he committed the loathsome act by force. Imam Ali asked if he had any witness in support of his statement.

The slave replied that where could there be a witness when he and hismaster were in a house and the act was committed in the midnight at which hedecided to murder him and he did murder him. Imam Ali asked if the masterat receiving the wound repented and sought the pardon of Almighty God. Theslave replied, ‘No’.Imam Ali hearing this exclaimed. ‘Allah-o-Akbar’ and said that the slave was uttering the truth but ordered the people to go and open the grave of the slainmaster of the slave and if the body was there in the grave, the slave shall bepunished and if not the slave should be acquitted. People went and found thegrave empty; the body of the man, just then buried had disappeared and thepeople returned and reported the matter to Imam Ali. Who decreed that the slave be let off. Peoplewondered and said that unto then Imam Ali ruled over the alive and now his rule had extended also over the dead and asked Imam Ali from where did he know about the secret of the grave, Imam Ali replied ‘from the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)’ for he had said that the body of the sodomist who had not repented before his death be that buried any where is removed to the graves of the sodomists in Sodom to remain there to be resurrected along with the sodomists on the Day of Judgment.

This instance can be as a heavenly sign given to the world through Imam Ali, so reassure them of the gravity of unnatural filthy crime compared to the other sins.The Holy Quran says: The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sentagainst them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyedthem), except Lut’s household: them We delivered by early Dawn - As aGrace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks. And (Lut) didwarn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning.(54:33-36)Archaeological studies reveal that the city Sodom is located in the area of the Dead Sea which stretches along the Israel-Jordan border. The lava and basalt layers constitute the greatest evidence that a volcanic explosion and earthquake had once taken place here. The catastrophe depicted in the following expression as “we rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer” in the Quran most probably points to this volcanic explosion, and God knowsbest. The expression “When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down” which occurs in the same verse, must be referring to the earthquake which caused volcanoes to erupt over the surface of the earth with devastating impact, and to the fissures and debris brought by it, and only God knows the truth of it.

The Lake of Lut, as well as the incidents that have taken place aroundit, deserves attention geologically. The Lake is approximately 400meters below the surface of the Mediterranean. Since the deepestplace in the Lake is 400 meters, the bottom of the Lake is 800 metersbelow the surface of the Mediterranean. This is the lowest point on theearth. In other areas which are lower than sea level, the depth is atmost 100 meters. Another property of the Lake of Lut is that the salt content of its water is very high, 5 times as salty as a typical ocean, the density being nearly 30%. Because of this, no living organism, such as fish or moss, can survive in this lake. This is why the Lake of Lut is called the “Dead Sea” in Western literature.

Pompeii Had a Similar End

The Quran tells us in the following verses that there is no change in God’s laws;They swore their strongest oaths by God that if a Warner came to them, they would follow his guidance better than any (other) of the Peoples: But when a Warner came to them, it has only increased their flight (from righteousness) - On account of their arrogance in the land and their plotting of Evil, but the plotting of Evil will hem in only the authors thereof. Now are they but lookingfor the way the ancients were dealt with? But no change wilt thou find in God's way (of dealing):

no turning off wilt thou find in God’s way (of dealing). (35:42-43)The destruction of Pompeii came by means of the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius. The volcano Vesuvius is the symbol of Italy, primarily the city of Naples. Remaining silent for the last two millennia, Vesuvius is named the “Mountain of Warning.” It is not without cause that Vesuvius is known as such. The disaster that befell Sodom and Gomorrah is very similar to the disaster that destroyed Pompeii.

The Holy Quran says: And We bestowed on him Isaac and, as an additional gift, (a grandson), Jacob, and We made righteous men of every one (of them). And We made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our Command, and We sent them inspiration to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers, and to practice regular charity; and they constantly served Us (and Us only). (21:72-73)

Prophet Isaac was the younger son of Prophet Abraham, by his first wife Sarah. Prophet Isaac married his uncle’s daughter Rebecca (Rafqa), and they were blessed with twin sons, Esau (Al Eis) and Prophet Jacob / Isreal (Yaqub). Prophet Jacob, like his father Isaac and his grandfather the Friend of the Merciful (Almighty God), was generous. He helped the poor. He entertained guests and strangers.

Prophet Jacob was much loved by his parents and this made his twin brother jealous. To prevent trouble between the brothers, Prophet Isaac advised Prophet Jacob to migrate from their home in Palestine to Haran (Fidaan Aram), where his maternal uncle Laban (Layyan) son of Shorael lived. In Haran he went into the service of his uncle. His uncle Laban had two daughters. The elder one was called Leah (Lia) and the younger one was Rachel (Rahil). Leah was weak-sighted, while Rachel was lovelier. His uncle Laban agreed to marry his daughter to him on the condition that Jacob pasture his sheep for seven years. After a period of time, his uncle prepared a feast and gathered people for thewedding. He married Leah, his elder daughter, to him at night. Jacob worked for another seven years and then married Rachel, the younger daughter. Laban gave a female slave to each daughter. Leah’s slave was called Zilpah (Zulfa) and Rachel's slave was called Bilha.

Almighty God compensated Leah’s weakness by giving her sons, the first one was named Rueben (Robel), after whom there were Simon (Shamun), Levi (Lawi), and Judah (Yahuda). Rachel felt jealous of Leah’s having sons, as she was barren. She gave her slave Bilha to her husband and Bilha give birth to two sons Don and Naphtali (Toftali). Leah in turn gave her slave Zilpah to Jacob and Zilpah gave birth to two sons, Gad (Had) and Asher. Then Leah gave birth to her fifth and sixth sons, Issaacher (Yashjar) and Zebulun (Zialoon). Thus, first wife Leah had total six (6) sons from Jacob.

Then Rachel prayed Almighty God to give her a son from Jacob. God heard her call and responded to her prayer. She gave birth to two sons, Joseph (Yusuf) and Benjamin (Binyamin) and a daughter named Diana (Dinah). Thus, second wife Rachel had three (3) issues from Jacob. Thus, Prophet Jacob was blessed with twelve (12) sons and one daughter. His twelve sons became famously known as the “grandchildren of Isaac”.

All of this happened when they were in the land of Haran and Jacob was pasturing his uncle’s sheep, which he did for a period of twenty (20) years.After the period of service was over, Prophet Jacob left with his family and property to return to Palestine. In Palestine, Prophet Jacob sent presents to his brother to indicate good-will, and his brother accepted them and welcomed him warmly. In time, the grudge between the brothers was forgotten.

Prophet Jacob decided to make his home in the land of Kanaan.Prophet Jacob second wife, Rachel died early and therefore Prophet Jacob always regarded her sons Benjamin and especially Prophet Joseph with particular affection. His love for Prophet Joseph was later to become a source of jealousy for his older sons who determined to do away with their younger brother. But Almighty God chose Prophet Joseph to be His Messenger and protected him from the evil intentions of his brothers.